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Where does your invite list end? Luke 14:15-23 teaches us that Jesus extends his invite to many unexpected guests. Those whom the world counts out are often the very people Jesus welcomes in. How can you imitate Jesus this week, inviting in people outside of your comfort zone?

If you’re ready to take a step into hospitality and invite people to your table, don’t forget to check out the Tables Resource Guide to start planning a night full of memories and great conversation!

KEY VERSES

• Luke 14:15-24 NLT: Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”

• Luke 14:17-20 NLT: When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

• Luke 14:21-23 NLT: “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.

HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

+ Reconnect

To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

• What are you thankful for?
• What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
• What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?
  

+ Recap

• Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
• Did you live out your response from last week?
• Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?
  

Discovering What God Is Saying

+ Read and Retell the Bible Story

• One person reads the story out loud to the group.
• Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.
  
  

+ Read and Look

• Read the passage again (different version if possible)
• What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?
  
  

+ Read and Look Again

• Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
• What does this passage say about people in general?
  
  

Doing What God Is Saying

+ Consider

• What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
• How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
• Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.
  
  

Sharing what God is saying

+ Praying Together

• Take prayer requests
• Pray together
  
  

+ Share

• Who in your life needs to hear this story?
• Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?
  
  

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.